Bridge collapses in southwest China months after opening

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Part of the Hongqi Bridge in southwestern China recently collapsed shortly after it opened, and officials are now investigating what caused the structure to fail.

China Daily reports that an incident occurred on National Highway 317 in Maerkang, Sichuan Province. On November 10, 2025, at approximately 5:25 p.m., authorities noticed a section of hillside near the bridge was shifting. They quickly sent emergency crews to the scene.

By 11 p.m., all the vehicles that were stuck had been removed, and warning signs were placed throughout the area. Unfortunately, even with these safety measures, a landslide occurred on November 11th, causing damage to parts of the bridge.

Bridge in China partially collapses months after opening

Fortunately, no one was hurt when the bridge collapsed. Traffic is being diverted around the area, and the section of road remains closed as officials watch for any further movement or instability. Videos shared by Chinese media show the moment of the collapse, with large clouds of dust visible as the bridge fell.

The Hongqi Bridge, recently built by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group and measuring roughly 758 metres long, is a vital part of the highway connecting central China and Tibet. Sadly, it collapsed just a few months after opening, according to Reuters.

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— Ponder (@ponder3485) November 11, 2025

Officials are looking into what caused the incident. Experts point out that the area’s mountains and common landslides make big construction projects there especially prone to problems with unstable hillsides. The government hasn’t said when the highway will reopen, and emergency teams are still checking surrounding areas for additional dangers.

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2025-11-11 19:20